Sound-reproducing apparatus



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Patented Feb. is, 193g UNHTED. STA-'rss ..1p Tsar o'ifrir'':nlv I h Drmivois c. i. irnimo'iisau-os-omawa, orranato. y

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The resent invention relates to sound re producing apparatus .and hasparticular" reerenceto such an a. paratus in which the sounds arereproduce by means of radiant An important object of `the invention isthe provision of an apparatus for selectively reproducing vocal or'instrumental composif tions.

A further object of the invention is the revision of an apparatuswhereby vocal and instrumental, particularly musical sounds may bereproduced inselective composition an in variable volume.'

Another object of the invention is the provision of sound reproducingapparatus embodyng a sensitized -member on which are 'recorded theindividual' notes of an instru-- ment by means of light projection andformed so that the sound can be 'reproduced in a similar mannertherefrom. v

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an -apparatuswhereby various selections can he reproduced by the operation of akey-hoard designed to intermittently ex- .pose sensitized members eachconstructed to reproduce the individual notes of an instrument whenexposed to'a light ray for the production of harmonic com tion.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus forrecording sounds upon a film or similar sensitized element.

Another object of the invention is the provision'of apparatus forreproducing sounds tized element and suitable amplification.

Another object Aof the invention is the provision of an apparatuswherein the individual notes of an instrument are recorded uponindividual reproducing elements and the elements selectively exposed to.a penetrating light ray whereby theI notes will be repr0- duced invariable'volume.

Other objects and advantages of the invenprogresses. l In theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in 4whichlike 5 reference characters are employed to desigby selective lightprojection through a sensition will become apparentasthe'descriptiomnate corresponding same:-

Figure 1 of thereproducing apparatus,

Y Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of.

the sound recording apparatus,

Figure 3 is .a transverse section taken through the structure shown inFigure Figure T4 is a moddidform'of axreoording apparatus, A i igure 5is a longitudinal section. through.y a modified 'form of a sound.reproducing apparatus,

Figure 6 is anenlarged detail cross section of one of the cylindersshown inFigure 5,

Fi-ure 7 is a fragments transverse sectiene View arent-mman@ ningunaFigure 8 is an enlargedfra entary section of the structure'shown inigure 7, .and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representationof a suggested forniArif-embodiment .ofthe invention,

Referring to the drawing, the yapparatus forming the sub'ect matter ofthe present invention embodies a sensitized element in is a. verticallongtudinal'section parts throughout the form of a plate or asdesignated et 10, in

the form of a film. The sounds to be reproduced'are initially recordedon the film 10 by radiant projection apparatus which may be in the formof a recorder-shown in Fi 're 2 or Fi `re 4. The-film is then mounte ina sui-tab e' reproducing mechanism whereby the soundsare selectivelyreproduced according to predetermined composition.

The essential feature of the present inven tionis the reproduction ofthe. sounds of .the human voice4 or of any musical instrument. For thepurpose of illustration, the reproduction of the musical ciect of anorgan and a piano will be particularlydescribed. With this in mind, itwill he noted that each individual note of the instrument is recorded bymeans of li lit-projection, u on an indivi ual film of pred duction ofthe musical sounds, the films w ch are of transparent structure arerigidly secured in successive series-upon a transparent' rotatablemember and selectively reproduced by the rojection of a light raycontrolled by a key'- rd or similar controlling mecha.-` 10 eterminedlengt Inthe re ronism and arranged' to .reproduce the sounds through. aphoto-electric or selenium cell which is operatively connected with .anamplifying unit. Y

-The sound is referably recorded on the lins by means o an al paratus asshown in Figure 2 embed ing a icol prism `11 fixed in an 'openi 0' o astationary panel 12. At

`oneside of e prism 11 supported a lens 13 in the path of .a powerfullight beam projected from lan -arc light 14 or the like. Arranged on theopposed side of the rsmv 11 in the path of the polarized light amissuing from the prism is a complement-ary Nicol'prismv15 pivotallysupported for deli- 'cate pivoting movement by means of a con nection16. The prism 15 is arranged sbstantially at right angles to the initialprism' 11 and is connected with a vibrato diaphragm 17 by means of anangular li connection 18. The beam of light'issuin from A theintermediate prism 15 is considera ly rei mec anism.' Y

.as shown in Figure 4, a modied ormpf i g 35 recording apparatusembodying a pair of in- 'A brations upon a film indicated at 27 whichisvertedlenses 21 through which a light beam is focused, for projectionthrough an openin 22 of a shield or panel 23 is also provide o The lightbem is projected uiough a Pimm.

aphic wedge-or similar plate 24 having a dy of variable transparency toreduce the intensity. of the beam. The late 24islongitudinally vibratedin the path of the beam si# multaneously with the 'vibration of adiaphragm o'r'microphone recorder through the instrumentality o f atoggle-connection 26 arranged to magni-the vibration ci the plate 24.-The beam then record the sound vimoved' at a uniform speed ad'a'centthe focus .opening 22. The lm may eA produced in egative form from whicha number .o f.posi- 'tive copies-could be reproduced.

ly reproduced in. a reproducing mechanism which would be constructed inaccordance with thaparticular type of instrument employed.` Thereproducing construction shown 1n Figure 1 i's applicable for thereproduction of the musical sound of wind instruments, such as organs.In this instance, the strips 10 are fixed upon the periphery of acylindrieal transparent drum positioned in a light excluding casing 29.The drum 2,8 is attached `l es to a shaft 30 extending concentrcally'from -strument are of vconsistent. value, the rojec- The sound recordedon thevlin 'is seltive-- Atatable support member whereby the beam willbe initially projected through the. films at apredetermined full toneposition one end-,and 3'ournaled-inabe'arin-gi31formed i in one end ofithe casing. The il'm strips 10 are arranged inuniformlylspacedsuccessive positions, as clearly ,shown in Figure 1, inclp-- posed positions to a series .of longitudine aligne a rtures 32formed in the side wa of .the casing and normally closed b adjust-4 ableclosure valves.' The closure va ves may nism, preferably a keyboardwich, in-the present instance, may be an exact simulation of an organkey-board. Mounted inone end of the casing 29 is a. photo electric cell33 having electric connection with a air of ter 'minals 34 which arealso connecte with 'an well known type of amplifying unit. Rigi 1ysupported within. the drum 28 and curved' to reiiect the light beamsprojected through the respective lms and drum on the photoelectric cellis areiector 35. The reiiefirmay be formed? of parabolic curvature andthe cell 33 arranged at the normal ocuspoint.

In theoperation of the device the trans'l parent drum 28 is rotated at auniform rate of spee'd by any preferred type,of motor conl nected withthe shaft 30. flheapertures 32 of th'e casing are selectively opened toadmit a strong beam of light which will be 'projected 7- through the lmsand reiiected to the photoelectric cell 33. In this manner, the' soundwill be transmitted to the' amplifier and reproducedinfpredeterxninedvolume. l`As pre-- viously indicated, the light'projection throufrh each of the films 10 will produce the audib eeil'ect of an individual not of thev instrument-so that variouscompositions can be reproduced asin'the actual production of mu sic fromthe complete instrument. lnasmuch as the notes of an organ or similarwind n tion of light through theres ective ms on the drum, in anyition,lw i1 produca music of harmonious cllioiacter. -Where, however,the reproduction 0I' stringed instruments or similar musical apparatusis contemplated, wherein the-respective tones'are of diminish. ingvalue, itis necessary to employ a particular type'oireoroducingvstructure so that the exact sound oi the original instrument can be isrope'rly reproduced. p .tith this ii mind, I provide a modified form ofreproducing mechanism as illustrated Y l inFigures' to 8 inclusive. Thisform ,of reperodur is constructed so that each film will mounted on adistinct, in dcpendently1 grgardless of the time variation of the indi-"vidual notes..A This is eiccted by the p vi- Ision of acylindricalcasing 3S formed wit .a

series'of uniformly spaced, inwardly proecting annular partitions 37.These artitiom are divided radially in the form o sect1 preferably fouruniform sections separa 4by slots 38. In the sides of the partitionsections, adjacent the inner edges.1l are formed 'concentric grooves 39arranged in continuous formation and communicating with'the dividingslots 38. y y i' 4 y A transparent cylinder 40 isconccntricallysupported in the casing 36 by means of a ro-v tary shat'l connected withand driven by asuitable motor. Loosely positioned about the' lperipheral'surface of the cylinder 4Q and dxsposed between thepartitions 37, are a serres of' annular transparent rings 42 of kI.J-shapcd cross section. operatively mounted at spaced l? pressedtriggers 43 carrying fixed collars -l-i' positions, in the rings 42 incorrespondence with the slots 38 in the partitions, are spring againstwhich the outer cnd'of a compression spring 45 en'ages. The inner end ofthe trigger 43 is slidiibly fitted through a transverse.

ring. Asshown to advantage in Figure 7, the

I tively pr plate'46, the inner-end of the spring 45 bear'- ing againstthis plate and adapted tonni-nulll project theouter end of the trigger'43 through an opening in the peripheral edge of tliering. The radialreciprocating movement of the trigger 43 is controlled by a laterallyprojecting finger 47 which operates in an elongated slot 48 formed inthe side of thccasing 36 is formed with light. admittingA openings 49,there being anLindivxdual opening arranged to register with each ilng49.. Similar openings are formed through the shell of the casing for theprojection of slulable push rods 50 adapted to be radially uctuated toenga e the triggers.

As describe p ticular type of reproducing apparatus is to Ahe employedfor the reproducton'of piano and similar instrumental selections. Due tothe.

diminishing audible eect of piano notes, it is necessa that the lightprojection, selecuced in the casing, initially iro-v ject through thefilms indicated at 51 an securedl about the peripheral surfaceof eachring, at a predetermined. position so that each note will initiallyroduce its full volume and .gradually dimini's .in simulation of theorigi- 'nal instrument. This essential effect is reproduced by thetrigger mechanism, as will b e terior of the cylinder 40, in a similarmanner to the structure of the reproducing mechanism shown in Figure 1,is mounted a curved reector arrangedto deflectthe light beam` projectedthrough the films upon the photoelectric cell through the medium ofwhich the sound is produced through an amplifying unit.

In operation of the reproducing structure described in the foregoino'the interior cvlinder 40 is rotated at a uniidrm predetermined in theforegoing, this par-fY of the spring 4 5 so that the linger 47 roectslaterally from one side of the rin 1)ini'one of the slots 38 of thepartition, .as s zown to. advantage in Figures 7. and 8. When it isdesired to reproduce the-musical note of a particular film strip, thetrigger' 43 is depressed hynieans of the push r'od dsimultaneously withthe opening of the adjacent light admitting o ening .49.. Thus, as thelight is proected t .ough the film atthe full volume position o fthe'note the ring 42 will be released from'the partition and ,will berotated with the interior cylinder 40, the lateral projection ofthefinger 47 moving in the groove 39of the particular partition section forapproximately one fourth of a revolution at which position itwill'automatically engage the next successive slot 38 to again lock theringin stationary position. During the movement of the ring, thecomplete diminishing-valueor` a note will be sounded so that thecomplete audible eiect is repro- Y duced. This reproducer may also becon'- yeniently operated from a key-board, in this instance simulating apiano key-board and present invention provides an a' paratus for theproduction o vocalsounds which may be reproduced in selectivecomposition. The sound reproducing elements are perfectly produced. by'

recording the notes of 'the better grade of instruments so that the rereducing. mechanism will audibly effect the highest grade of music.inasmuch as the reproducing apparatus may be readily constructed in'comparatively small compact form, theadvantage from the standinstrumentaas well as` point of economy com ared to the costof the actualinstrument is o viously very'sulistantial as well as the saving of spacerequired for the larver instruments, such asorga'ns andthe like. n thereproduction of musical selections of organs, .pianos and .likeinstruments,

the present apparatus can he operated from v a key-board similar to thatemployed inthe ereinafter described. Arranged in the inoriginalinstrument or,if'desirable, by a special key-board designed for thisparticular purpose. Furthermore, the paratus willv be extremely dura ileand con-l venient in operationdue to the relatively' simple constructionthereof.

For purposes of illustration, and as a suggested use to which theinvention can -be put. an instrument will now he described: said in--strument being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The instrument Ato bevdescribed is adapted to be used 'as a piano and, therefore, reproducespiano music. As shown, the complete apparatus comprises a console 52very resent apsimilar to that used in organs and having a I plurality ofkey bars 53. The sound repro- I f '1,147,9ae

ducing device. proper is shown at 36 and the inside drum 40 is rotatedby means of the small electric motor 56. On top of the casing andopposite theapertures 49 is: laced a con- 'centrate'd filament lamp 57;sai lam bein enclosed in a casing 58 and the rays o whic g e arecollected by av plano-convex lens 59 Ato i project into the casingparallel rays of light.

To selectivel introduce into the casing,

and subsequent unto the film, the said rays solenoid 62 having a core 63to which the bar 60 issecured. Now, if we energize the solenoid, thecore 63 will be urged' inwardly into the solenoid drawing therewith thebar 60. This movement is so regulated that when the bar 60 is withdrawnthe apertures'49 and 61 coincide so that the rays emitted by the lampwill reach the film and casing through. said film and rotor 42 and aectthe operations of the photo-electric cell' (Fig. 1). When the :solenoidis deenergized, the bar 60 is immediately retracted to the right bythespring 64 attached to one end of said b ar and to securin means on thecasing.

e epereeen ef the eeieieia is eentreiied' .by eontacts`65 actuated b thekeys.

From an inspection o Figure 9 it will be` i seenfthat loud-.speakers canbe connected to are both connected to the supply terminal 73.

comprising a light impervious x':asixig,`a`p1urali of transparentrotatable carrier mem- 105 the output terminals 71 and also that thesolenoid 62 is preferably energized by a battery 72, and finally thatthe motor 56 an'd lamp 57 It is to be understood that the form of myinvention herein shown and described is to be taken as preferred exampleof the same,

and that v'ai-ious changes as to the shape, size,

- and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from.the s irit of the inventlon or the scope of the su joined claims.Having thus described my invention, .I

claimz- Lan mfaiiri'asebddmm,

appara o ec amc et e n e 'throughanydesiredlmortilmsali htbeam, 1-

d a ree'cting member inside the para el`"mein- 113 bers for focussingthe light beams unto a comprisingA a plurality of transparent ele ments,a light impervious casin' rovide with a ries of o enings adapte orselective projection o a beam oilight there-,

through.I a hollow transparent carrier ineinber mounted for rotarymovement in the casing and arranged so that the sensitized elements canbe fixed in series thereon adjacent tiie openings in the. casing, 'aphoto-electric cell mounted in one end of the casin g, `a-soundapparatus. operatively connected w1 the said cell, and a reectmgmemberpositioned within the rotary carrier adapted to. reiart, the light beamsprojected through thesensinzedelements an carrier on to the cell forreproductionof the sounds recorded thereon. I

2. apparatus for the reprodnctien of c I sound comprisng'a series offilms upon which are recorded oscillating amplitudes of the`in'-`dividual notes of a sound producing instrument, alight imperviouscasingprovided with 7g a plurality of spaced. openings in onesidethereof, 'a film carrying cylinder rotatablyA mounted within thecasing .and arran so` that the film can be secured about t e peripherytherefrom iii-,successive series in opi posed positionto the openingsinthe casing,

a radio active cell supported in the casi-ng,

a sound -amplifier mechanism operatively connected 'withthe cell and aredecting member e positioned in the rotatable cylinder adapted e0 toproject the beams of light selectively proieefedihreogh'fhe sensitizedsim mi 1in- A der onto the cell foreproduction o the sounds of thefilms.

3. An apparatus for reproducing sounds comprising a light imperviouscasing, a plut rality of transparent rotatable carrier mem-# bers insaid casing, a central drum inside said'f" members and adaptedtoberotatedby suitable h' means, transparent films secured :on thepevIiphei'y of said members. s aidilms having recorded tbereontheoscillating amplitudes of a note of a sound producing instrument,

means for selectively roiecting through any desired films a lightll)note it is desired to play, a. reflecting mem,-V

ber inside the transparent members for focussing the light beams unto aphoto-elec-- tric cell, an audio-frequency amplifier con nected to saidcell, and means for starting and 10 stopping the individual transparentmembers at a predetermined position.

4; A11 apparatus for reproducing sounds,

the oscillating amplitudes of a note of a sound im` producinoinstrument, means for selectivelyf driving e parallel members by thecentral means for selectively .projecting photdelectric cell, anaudio-frequency ampliiier connected to said-cell and .means for startingand stopping the individual trans- .parent members at s predeterminedwitness '-vvhereof: I-have .hereunto set my hand.

eem according to the 9.5.*

